Two Common Species
Marbled Hatchetfish (Carnegiella strigata) — smaller, hardier, schooling.
Common/Silver Hatchetfish (Gasteropelecus levis) — larger, less hardy, sensitive.
Tank Requirements
30+ gallons. Schooling group of 6-8.
TIGHT tank lid — hatchetfish jump 2+ feet vertical, easily escape.
Floating plants for security but leave open swimming areas.
Diet
Surface feeders — flake and floating pellets.
Frozen mosquito larvae and small flying insects (when available) trigger natural feeding.
Skip sinking foods — they ignore them.
Compatibility
Excellent with: corydoras, peaceful tetras, dwarf cichlids.
Avoid: aggressive cichlids, large predators, fin-nippers.
- ✦ALL hatchetfish are jumpers — verify lid security weekly
- ✦Surface agitation is bad — they prefer calm water
- ✦Wild-caught individuals more sensitive than tank-bred